by Kay L. Ling
A voice said, “Gem Master Elias! What a pleasant surprise!”
Startled, Tyla looked over at the storage cabinet.
“It’s not the same here without you.” The spell book sighed and added in a wounded tone, “I do not hold grudges, so I have forgiven you for stuffing me into a burlap bag and smothering me with pillows.”
Ertz’s blue eyes shone with amusement. “What’s this about bags and pillows?”
Elias went to the gothic chair in the corner and lifted the seat, revealing a compartment that held a burlap bag and two feather pillows. “I occasionally stored the book here . . . to preserve my sanity.”
“I quite understand,” Ertz said, chuckling.
Ertz went through books on the desk, found the volumes he’d been looking for, and gave them to Tyla. “These describe hundreds of trees, shrubs, and plants, many of which are extinct in the Amulet. Officials will concentrate on reintroducing ones that produce fruits, nuts, and berries.”
“I’m looking forward to your lecture tonight,” she said.
The spell book said cheerfully, “I know a great deal about plants and trees. You will find a spell on page two hundred and three that encourages rapid plant growth. My former mistress also wrote a spell to accelerate the ripening process since she was fond of spoiled fruit. She considered molds a delicacy, especially pungent ones. I have spells to create many unique, colorful varieties. Would you like to see them?”
Tyla left, smiling. If the gem masters wanted to get a word in edgewise, they might need the burlap bag.
It was late afternoon when Ertz and Elias returned to the library, and Tyla hoped that meant the visit had gone well. About an hour before, Arenia had left to take care of Eemie so Lant could work in the Pedestal Room and Tyla could stay and wait for Elias.
“Come with us,” Elias said to Tyla, his voice tense. “Ertz has something he would like to show us.”
She followed obediently, a sense of dread filling her when Ertz took them to S’s broom closet. Before giving the password phrase, he peeked into the ministry office next door, making sure they had all left for the day. Then he released the lock and opened the door.
What a relief. The cage was there and S was inside. Tyla had been afraid S might be gone. Why else would Elias look so tense?
“Tyla, help me take the cage out. We’ll set it here on the passageway floor,” Ertz said.
They took it out and set it down carefully. Ertz opened the cage and reached inside. S scuttled away, crying, “Get away from me! Leave me alone!”
What was Ertz doing? He stuck his arm in farther and finally got ahold of her.
“Put me down!” she shrieked.
Once he had her out of the cage, he flipped her onto her back.
“How dare you!” Her legs waved in the air, and Tyla couldn’t help but laugh.
“Now watch, and I’ll show you the evidence,” Ertz said.
The beetle’s body glowed faintly, and then the glow faded and a dark green spot appeared on her underside. After a few seconds, the spot disappeared.
“Evidence? What’s going on?” Tyla looked down at the beetle, confused.
“The day Anatta and Varkandian left, I sensed a spell when I neared Sheamathan’s cage. It was subtle. Few would notice it. My first thought was that they had created a duplicate beetle and substituted it for the real Sheamathan. Fortunately, that was not the case. But they did place a tracking spell on her, evidenced by the mark on her underside.” Ertz returned S to the cage.
“A tracking spell! Why would they do that?” Tyla asked. Lana had worried that Anatta might be able to free S from a distance. A tracking spell would allow someone to find S if she escaped from Elantoth. Was that the plan?
“I can think of two possibilities. They have a spell that can free her, and they want to be able to find her later. Or, they want to be able to track her in case you hide her rather than turn her over to Ahmonellian officials.”
“If they’re worried about us, why hide the tracking spell? Just say they felt it was a prudent safeguard.”
“It would mean they distrust you, and as members of the Joint High Council, they are trained not to cause offense.”
Tyla turned to Elias. “What do you think? Are they planning to free her?”
“I don’t know. I know too little about woodspirits, and it would be a mistake to assume they’re all as devious as S.”
Ertz said, “Using a spell, Anatta could make someone release S and forget he had done it. But that wouldn’t be easy since the cage is locked in the closet, and only a few know the password phrase.”
“Is there anything you can do to make sure no one frees her? Tyla asked.
“I created a special ward. Feeding her won’t disturb it, but trying to remove her from the closet will.”
“Good,” Tyla said.
S was silent, probably amused by their worries and speculations. They returned the cage to the closet and shut the door.
“Most likely, the tracking spell is so you can’t hide her, but it’s best to be safe,” Ertz said as they started down the passageway. “I found your insights about Sheamathan’s personality very interesting, Elias. I would like to get together again and discuss her in greater depth, and I’m interested in your opinions about Kaff, as well. I understand he accompanied you on the first Amulet mission.”
“He did. The mission seemed to bring out the worst in him.”
“I may be asked to testify at his trial about his psychological state. Your recollection of his behavior and attitudes, both during the mission and when he kidnapped S, would be helpful.”
“I have no objection to sharing that information with you.”
“Thank you. You’ve done a great deal for Amulet gnomes, and I regret you haven’t received the gratitude you deserve.” He turned to Tyla. “For the time being, let’s keep S’s tracking spell a secret among the three of us. Elias said you can be trusted, so I took you into our confidence.”
“I won’t say anything,” she assured him.
When they reached the library, Ertz said, “If the two of you will excuse me, I’m off to meet Raenihel, and then it will be time for dinner.”
When he was gone, Tyla said, “Ertz obviously trusts you. Do you feel the same about him?”
“I do,” Elias said without hesitation. “He’s good at burying his thoughts, and he definitely has secrets, but I believe he wants what’s best for Amulet gnomes and for Ahmonell in general.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” It would take a while to trust Ertz completely, and maybe she never would. She was too used to thinking of him as that sneaky gnome spy.
Chapter 18
Twilight cloaked the forest with deepening shadows as Tyla and Parcune approached the portal to the Fair Lands Amulet. Lana would be waiting for them at the Watchers Tree Home, and Tyla’s empty satchel would soon be full of books. Members of Tyla’s clan had been coming to this Tree Home every night for generations, monitoring not only the portal but also the Fair Lands Amulet. There was less reason to do that now that S had been defeated, but the tradition continued.
After bringing their minds and bodies into harmony with the portal’s energy, Tyla and Parcune stepped through.
Tyla shivered. Snow covered the ground, and the air was unbelievably cold. The moon and stars shone brightly, but unlike Ahmonell’s night sky, there was no silvery sheen to provide extra light. Gnomes saw well in the dark compared to humans, but Tyla had brought a lightgem, and its light announced their presence as they walked the short distance to the Tree Home.
Lana was there as expected, wearing jeans, a brown jacket, and a backpack.
“I hope you haven’t waited long. It’s freezing,” Tyla said.
Lana brushed snow from her hair. “Only a few minutes, but I’ll be glad to get inside.”
Tyla took Lana’s arm, and they walked through the surface of the tree, emerging in the Tree Home’s inter-dimensional space, a room about fifty feet across that towere
d high overhead. Veins of dim light shone from the walls. Small tables and stools made of live roots rose up from the floor. Farther away, a heap of corrustone glowed invitingly, and gnomes sat in a circle around it, talking and drinking fialazza. They looked up briefly and then resumed their conversations.
“Let’s sit over here,” Tyla said, indicating the tables and stools.
Tyla took out the newssheets she’d tucked into her coat, and Lana began to remove books from the backpack.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Tyla said.
“How is Ben doing?” Lana asked as she stacked the books on the table.
“Surprisingly well. Now other breghlin want to learn to read, so Franklin is teaching a group once a week in his cabin.”
“I thought it was a secret—Ben learning to read.”
Parcune laughed. “It’s hard to keep secrets at Elantoth.”
“It’s impossible to keep anything from Tina Ann,” Tyla added, grinning. “Tina Ann followed Ben because he’d been acting secretive, and she was sure he was up to something.”
Parcune picked up a book and flipped through the pages. “I’ve never learned to read, but I want to so I’ll be able to read newssheets. Besides, I haven’t completely given up my rivalry with Ben, and I can’t let him get the better of me.”
The two of them had sparred at the start of the Amulet Mission, but were soon united by their mutual dislike of Kaff and came to like each other.
“We have a courier service now, as you predicted,” Tyla told Lana. “They deliver newssheets and correspondences once a week.”
“Mostly edicts from Mierek, which we really don’t want,” Parcune grumbled.
When Tyla brushed back damp strands of hair, Lana asked, “What’s that red spot on your arm?”
“It’s the mark I was telling you about. The one that shows we have gem powers. Everyone in our clan that has gem powers got it last week.”
“It’s kind of creepy that they mark you,” Lana said. “But that reminds me. I brought you something to wear on your wrist, and it’s much nicer than a gem tattoo.” She took something from her pocket—a blue and white gemstone bracelet.
Tyla gasped. “For me? Oh, it’s beautiful! But you shouldn’t give me something so valuable.”
“It’s only blue and white topaz set in silver.” Lana drew the bracelet around Tyla’s wrist and clasped it. “You admired mine, so I found one that’s almost identical.”
“I don’t know how to thank you!”
Lana’s expression turned serious. “When I broke through the armory wards and got trapped inside, you stayed up all night thinking of a way to rescue me, so please consider this bracelet a thank you gift.”
Tyla smiled. The bracelet was a good reminder that she could solve a crisis if she didn’t panic. “I’ll wear it all the time, and someday I’ll pass it on to my daughter.”
Parcune said, “I’ll get us some fialazza while you show Lana the newssheets.”
“There’s an article I want to show you about Kaff and his supporters,” Tyla said.
“Supporters!”
“Remember I told you some woodspirits are obsessed with S? Well, this group is interested in Kaff.” Tyla found the article. “I’m not sure I understand this. Kaff has a hearing in a few days, and depending how it goes, he can buy his way out of the confinement. His family has no IGs, so a woodspirit group called the Seekers has offered to pay. That doesn’t seem right, does it?”
“It works the same way in my world. If the court figures a criminal isn’t likely to run away, they release him on bail. Bail means someone puts up money—IGs in your case—and if the criminal doesn’t show up for the trial, the people who put up the money don’t get it back.”
Parcune returned with three goblets of fialazza.
“Lana says they can really do it,” Tyla told Parcune. “Woodspirits can pay Kaff’s way out of the confinement.”
Parcune handed out the drinks and sat. “What if he runs away and never goes to trial?”
By now, Lana was skimming the article. “This says they plan to put a tracking spell on him, so it wouldn’t do him any good to run away.”
“I hear that’s a common practice,” Tyla said. She was tempted to tell Lana about S’s tracking spell, but it wasn’t her place to share the secret. If Elias decided to later, that was up to him.
Lana looked up. “I’d be afraid a gnome with gem powers could break the tracking spell.”
“Maybe whoever puts the tracking spell on him is the only one who can take it off. It must be a complex spell with plenty of safeguards,” Parcune said.
“Let’s hope so,” Tyla said. “But Lana has taught us to look for things that could go wrong, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
“What have you come up with so far?” Lana asked.
“Since The Eight are more powerful than the best gnome gem masters, maybe one of them could break it.”
“They probably could, but I doubt they’d want to,” Parcune said.
Tyla posed the question to Lana. “What dangers can you think of?”
Lana rested her chin in her hands. “It’s hard to say without knowing how the tracking spell works, but supposing it works as Parcune suggested, someone could either bribe the gem master or force him to remove the spell. But you may be worrying for nothing. Bail could be set so high the woodspirits can’t come up with the money.”
“If the Seekers can’t afford it, there’s someone else who can,” Parcune said.
“Right. Kitana Windan, newssheet publisher and one of The Eight.” Tyla opened to the interview with Kaff. “Kaff says he kidnapped S and tried to learn dark powers because he believed it would take Dark gems to break through the Amulet barrier. Kitana sympathizes with his motivation, and I bet she’d pay to get him out.”
Parcune frowned. “No sensible person would think Dark gems were the answer. S spent over two hundred years in the Amulet, and if she couldn’t find a way to break through the barrier, why would Kaff, a novice gem user, think he could? Kidnapping S was risky and stupid, and there was no need for it.”
Tyla added, “If Mierek was afraid to let Elias go with the Amulet Team because he had used Dark gems in the past, it’s safe to assume using Dark gems directly on the barrier would be dangerous.”
“So, someone is likely to bail Kaff out, whether it’s the crazy S groupies, or Kitana Windan,” Lana said. “I don’t know Kaff personally, but Jules says he’s a self-centered, power-hungry little weasel.”
Parcune grimaced. “He is. And that was even before he used Dark gems, and they bring out the worst in the user.”
“They cloud your judgment, and it becomes easier to do things you wouldn’t have done before,” Lana said.
Tyla nodded. “If Kaff is released, he has to stay in Aberell City. Where would he go? Especially with no IGs.”
“He’s been accused of using dark powers and has a couple witnesses. I suppose he’ll have to live in the Outcast District,” Parcune said.
“The woodspirit groupies might take him in,” Lana said. “He’d probably love that. They’d hang on his every word.”
“If they’re like the ones we met in Heggert Park, you’re right,” Tyla said.
“Do you think officers will use the tracking spell to keep an eye on him?” Lana asked.
“The tracking spell would only tell them where he is. Not what he’s doing,” Tyla said. “He might be using dark powers for all they know.”
“I hope he does,” Parcune said, grinning. “Last time he used Dark gems, he tried his hand with transformation gems and ended up half gnome, half ugly bird. If the woodspirits saw him like that, they wouldn’t be so impressed with him.”
Chapter 19
Despite being busy with research and rune translations, Tyla was now giving reading and writing lessons in the library. Elantoth Fortress must find staff for newly formed departments, and few gnomes in the region could read or fill out paperwork.
Although Parcu
ne’s functions at Elantoth didn’t require reading, he wanted to learn and was one of her most enthusiastic students. He was catching on much faster than the others, and yesterday, when she mentioned that to him, he reluctantly admitted that Elias had used a gem on him that enhanced his learning abilities. If Tyla wanted to try it on others, Parcune would ask to borrow it.
Today, before going to the library, Tyla had an early breakfast with Lant and Eemie, and then retreated to the terrace with a recent newssheet. It had rained overnight, so rather than sit in the arbor she chose a table with a good view of the new gardens.
Ertz had taken the spell book’s advice and given the rapid-growth spell a try. The cuttings had formed tiny leaves that matured within minutes, and then flower buds opened to full-sized blooms.
Tyla opened the newssheet and read about Kaff’s hearing. Elantoth had been briefed before the paper arrived, so she knew what to expect, but she wanted to read it herself.
Kaff’s woodspirit admirers had posted bail and planned to organize speaking engagements for him. There was some concern that Kaff’s notoriety could make it difficult for the court to find ten unbiased judgmentors. The article went on to say that, unlike Kaff, Sheamathan would not be eligible for bail. Tyla was glad to see that in print.
The debate over where to move S had been heating up lately. Recent newssheets showed illustrations of gnomes in front of public buildings, carrying signs that said gnomes should decide. Similar protests were occurring in all the fortress cities. Meanwhile, woodspirits threatened to withhold financial support for parks and museums if gnomes got custody of S.
Tyla looked up from the paper, startled by the sound of wheels on stones. A splendid erum-drawn carriage came into view, and tossing the paper aside, she ran to the edge of the terrace to get a better look.